The AFC South has seen the Houston Texans win back-to-back years, though this past year, they came close to giving up a big lead due to a late-season collapse.The Texans' late-season struggles seem to have given the rest of the AFC South the impression that this year, anyone could walk away with the division crown. The Indianapolis Colts made some eyebrow-raising moves in free agency. And the division also added the top two picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, with the Tennessee Titans making Cam Ward the number one overall pick and the Jacksonville Jaguars trading up to the second pick to select the two-way phenom Travis Hunter. With intrigue surrounding the AFC South seeming to be at an all-time high, our two AFC South beat writers, Destin Adams and Easton Freeze, decided to weigh in on how each position group grades out on paper heading into the 2025 season. This two-part series will look at offenses and defense. Below, you will find the defensive side of the ball, which has caused some heated debate. 

If you want to check out our offensive rankings, click here. 

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AFC South Positional Rankings: Defense

Edge Rusher

Destin:
1. Texans
2. Jaguars
3. Colts 
4. Titans

Easton:
1. Texans
2. Jaguars
3. Colts 
4. Titans

The top edge room in the division has to go to the Texans until they prove otherwise. The duo of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. is one of the top edge rusher pairs in the NFL, let alone in the division. The closest duo in the AFC South is Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker on the Jaguars, but if you go one-for-one comparison, I think Hunter is better than Hines-Allen, and Anderson is better than Walker. 

The Colts and Titans are pretty clearly third and fourth on this list; neither has a bona fide alpha in their edge room, but the Colts have the edge due to the quality of players in the room. The Titans' projected top edge rusher is Arden Key, and the Colts probably have three players the majority of the league would take over him in Laiatu Latu, Kwity Paye, and Samson Ebukam. Both have intriguing young players to watch closely this season, though in Oluwafemi Oladejo and JT Tuimoloau. – Destin Adams

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Defensive Tackle

Destin:
1. Colts
2. Titans
3. Texans
4. Jaguars

Easton:
1. Titans
2. Colts
3. Texans
4. Jaguars

As you see in our rankings, the biggest debate at defensive tackle is for the top two spots. The Colts and Titans have the four best DTs in the division, and how you rank them probably decides who you give the top spot to. In my opinion, I think DeForest Buckner is the best DT in the AFC South over Jeffery Simmons. I think Buckner is a more stable force with less variance in his play, and even at 31 years old, remains one of the best DTs in the NFL. Next up is comparing the big boys in Grover Stewart and T'Vondre Sweat. Both guys are asked to do the dirty work on the inside, and they do it with a smile on their faces. I think the veteran Stewart is the better player right now, with Sweat just now entering his second season.  – Destin Adams

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The Titans and Colts are close here. But I’m taking the trio of Simmons, Sweat, and Joseph-Day over Buckner, Stewart, and Gallimore. I see a slightly higher ceiling for each of these three Titans over their Colts counterpart at this point in their careers. – Easton Freeze

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Linebacker 

Destin:
1. Texans
2. Jaguars
3. Colts
4. Titans

Easton:
1. Texans
2. Jaguars
3. Colts
4. Titans

This position group is fairly straightforward, as Destin and I both agreed. The Texans' core edges out a strong and ascending Jaguars group due in part to my implicit trust in head coach Demeco Ryans to get the most out of that position. They’re also a pretty deep room: Christian Harris, Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To’oTo’o, and EJ Speed all bring something to the team when called upon.

I do really like the Jaguars' tandem of Devin Lloyd and Foye Oluokon, though, and could see them taking yet another step this season. Then the Colts bring Zaire Franklin and Jaylon Carlies, who edge out the Titans' attempt to claw their way out of the LB desert with Cody Barton and either Cedric Gray or James Williams (we think). Tennessee has upside potential, but outside of Barton, it’s all entirely unproven. – Easton Freeze

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Safety

Destin:
1. Texans
2. Colts
3. Jaguars
4. Titans

Easton:
1. Texans
2. Titans
3. Colts
4. Jaguars

The Texans added to their already talented secondary this offseason by adding C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The safety/slot CB hybrid is going to be a fun chess piece in DeMeco Ryans' defense, and pairing him with Calen Bullock, who had a very good rookie season, easily forms the best safety duo in the AFC South. In second, I have another team that made a big move in free agency with the Colts, who added ball hawk Cam Bynum to pair with Nick Cross. who is coming off the best year of his young career.

After that, I think the Jaguars have the next best player at safety in Darnell Savage, who I believe is very underrated around the league. Which is why I give them the edge over the Titans, whose top safety is Armani Hooker. I'd also take veteran Eric Murray over Xavier Woods. Where things could change, though, is if rookie Kevin Winston Jr. can earn a starting job early this season. I was a big fan of Winston during this draft process and wouldn't be shocked if he can develop into the Titans' top safety of the future, but right now, they come in at the fourth spot.  – Destin Adams

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I see the Titans' top line trio of Amani Hooker, Xavier Woods, and promising rookie Kevin Winston Jr. as a clear second place in the division. Hooker is perpetually underrated on a national level, Woods is a steady vet, and Winston has the potential to be the best safety from the 2025 class.

Behind them in a clear 3rd place to me is the Colts, with a solid duo in Nick Cross and Cam Bynum. 7th round draft pick Hunter Wohler even adds some point here for me, as I see the former Badger as somebody who could develop into a starter one day.

Bringing up the rear are the Jags, whose starting duo of Eric Murray and Darnell Savage isn’t exactly inspiring. 3rd round rookie Caleb Ransaw could hit and change the dynamics of this room for them, but he wasn’t exactly my favorite prospect in this class. – Easton Freeze

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Cornerback 

Destin:
1. Texans
2. Colts
3. Titans
4. Jaguars

Easton:
1. Texans
2. Titans
3. Colts
4. Jaguars

The Texans have one of the top CBs in the NFL in Derek Stingley Jr., and he got paid this offseason as a result. They also got a really solid season from Kamari Lassiter during his rookie season. I still think he would be better long term in the slot, but he proved he can hang on the outside last season. After Stingley, I think the Colts arguably have the second and third best CBs in the AFC South in Charvarius Ward and Kenny Moore, which is why I have them second. 

The Titans come in at third; I like their starting trio of L'Jarius Sneed, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., and Roger McCreary. The shocker last season, though, was how poorly Sneed played even when on the field. It's safe to assume he was never 100% healthy, so the hope will be he returns to being one of the best CBs in the NFL this season. But at this moment, I think the highest he can be ranked in the AFC South is the fourth-best CB. Coming in fourth for me is the Jaguars, whose top CB is Tyson Campbell, who had an up-and-down season last year. They added Travis Hunter this season, who has all the talent in the world, but it remains a mystery how many snaps he is going to play on the defensive side of the ball. And when he isn't playing, the team's second outside CB spot is most likely going to be a player who is a better fit in the slot, like Jarrian Jones or Jourdan Lewis.   – Destin Adams

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The Titans are a real enigma at CB this year, because this will either be a strength or a weakness, depending entirely on L’Jarius Sneed’s healthy comeback. If he’s himself again, this is one of the most complete starting trios in the entire league. If he’s not, everybody shifts into a role I don’t think they’re best suited for, and it could get ugly in a hurry. But I’m rolling with the Titans ahead of the Colts here because of the upside of their healthy starters. Give me Sneed/Brownlee/McCreary over Ward/Jones/Moore. – Easton Freeze

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